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41 Drivers from YRC Worldwide Are Rolling On Over to the 2011 National Truck Driving Championships


big rig (select to view enlarged photo)

OVERLAND PARK, KS--July 12, 2011: YRC Worldwide Inc. announced today that 41 of its professional drivers will compete at the 2011 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) to be held Aug. 9 -- 13 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The YRC Worldwide team includes 33 drivers from YRC, five from Holland and three from Reddaway.

"Reaching the NTDC is like making it to the Super Bowl," says Mike Smid, president-YRC and chief operations officer-YRC Worldwide. "We're very proud of these drivers and their dedication to safety. Their driving skills reflect well on our company and our industry."

To qualify for the national championships, drivers must place first in their respective class at state competition. The YRCW drivers will compete against nearly 400 others for national titles in eight different classes of vehicles and for the overall title of National Grand Champion.

Both the state and national competitions include challenging driving skills and maneuvering tests, a pre-trip inspection, and a written examination covering vehicle operation and federal safety regulations. To participate in the state competitions, drivers must be accident free for one year.

"This is a great group of drivers and we're pleased to have competitors in every class we entered," says Smid. "Fifteen of our 41 champions this year competed in the NTDC last year and one -- Alphonso Lewis -- is the 2007 National Grand Champion. All together, we're feeling very good about the experience on our team and the opportunity for them to mentor each other and really enjoy the competition."

The 2011 YRC Worldwide National Truck Driving Championships Team

YRC Drivers

State

Class

Phillip Beck

Texas

Twins

Byron Bramwell

Missouri

3-Axle

Kevin Dean

Georgia

4-Axle

Larry Dumont

New Hampshire

5-Axle

Randy Ebinger

Virginia

4-Axle

Mike Erick

Connecticut

Twins

Steve Fields

Missouri

Twins

Robbie Granstrom

Oklahoma

3-Axle

Mark Hewitt

Ohio

4-Axle

Jude Hurst

Kentucky

Tanker

Russell James

Montana

4-Axle

Christopher Jamison

Mississippi

Flatbed

Jerry Kraetsch

Minnesota

Tanker

Alphonso Lewis

Alabama

5-Axle

Patrick Long

Arkansas

4-Axle

Kenny Meyer

New York

Tanker

Kevin Mieskiewicz

Pennsylvania

4-Axle

Dave Miller

Illinois

5-Axle

David Murphy

Idaho

5-Axle

Neil Nogues

New Hampshire

3-Axle

Peter Orgass

Florida

Tanker

Dave Pack

North Carolina

3-Axle

Mickey Rafeal

New Hampshire

3-Axle

Jerry Roberts

Georgia

Twins

Rich Siegle

Illinois

4-Axle

Tom Teddy

Indiana

Sleeper

Paul Unser

Idaho

Flatbed

Ron VanBibber

Utah

Tanker

Randy Vrana

Texas

4-Axle

Wade Wageman

South Dakota

Twins

Michael West

Virginia

Flatbed

Patrick Wickman

New Hampshire

4-Axle

Don Wilhelm

Nebraska

Twins



Holland Drivers

State

Class

Marty Blandford

Indiana

5-Axle

Herschel Evans

Georgia

5-Axle

James Lawless

North Carolina

Straight Truck

Rickey Tate

Georgia

Straight Truck

David White

Ohio

Tanker



Reddaway Drivers

State

Class

John Lopez

Colorado

Straight Truck

Jeff Payne

Utah

Twins

Mark Peterson

Washington

3-Axle



Additional Awards Received at State Competitions

Driver

Company

Award

Mark Hewitt

YRC

Ohio Grand Champion

Jude Hurst

YRC

Kentucky Grand Champion

John Lindberg

Holland

Tennessee Pre-Trip Trophy

Dave Miller

YRC

Illinois Grand Champion

Peter Orgass

YRC

Florida Grand Champion

Jeff Payne

Reddaway

Utah Grand Champion

Mark Peterson

Reddaway

Washington Grand Champion

Jason VanMeter

YRC

Washington Rookie of the Year

Don Wilhelm

YRC

Rookie of the Year



Company

State

Award

YRC

Arkansas

Team Trophy

YRC

Illinois

Team Trophy

YRC

Indiana

Team Trophy

YRC

Missouri

Team Trophy

YRC

New Hampshire/Vermont

Team Trophy



About YRC Worldwide

YRC Worldwide Inc., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., is a leading provider of transportation and global logistics services. It is the holding company for a portfolio of successful brands including YRC, YRC Reimer, YRC Glen Moore, Reddaway, Holland and New Penn, and provides China-based services through its Jiayu and JHJ joint ventures. YRC Worldwide has the largest, most comprehensive less-than-truckload (LTL) network in North America with local, regional, national and international capabilities. Through its team of experienced service professionals, YRC Worldwide offers industry-leading expertise in heavyweight shipments and flexible supply chain solutions, ensuring customers can ship industrial, commercial and retail goods with confidence.